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Outdoors Hatteras Island, Nags Head

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

An outdoor spot in Hatteras Island, Nags Head, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Early morning.

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Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in Hatteras Island, Nags Head
Photo: Vbofficial · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

Refuge ponds with herons, egrets and winter waterfowl along NC 12.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Nags Head, alongside 3 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Bodie Island Lighthouse, 8.0 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Hatteras Island
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Early morning

Nearby

The 4 closest curated picks in Nags Head, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Bodie Island Lighthouse

    Black-and-white banded tower with a marsh boardwalk; climbs in season.

    Sight · 8.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe

    Seafood house on the Nags Head-Manteo causeway with sound views from every seat and NC-caught fish.

    Food · 14 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Jennette's Pier

    Concrete ocean pier with fishing, exhibits and views over the surf.

    Activity · 15 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Sam & Omie's

    Fishing-shack restaurant since 1937 serving seafood and breakfast.

    Food · 15 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a stop on our Outer Banks Beach Road route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More outdoor spots in Nags Head

Another curated outdoor spot in Nags Head. See the full Nags Head guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Nags Head run from 51°F in January to 82°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge itself, we suggest: Early morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Nags Head from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Nags Head weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
14500 North Carolina Hwy 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968, USA
Coordinates
35.71677, -75.49376
Destination
Nags Head, North Carolina

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge: quick answers

How much time do you need at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Plan on about an hour at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Our pick: Early morning.

Is Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge free?

Yes, we list Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is at 14500 North Carolina Hwy 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968, USA, in Hatteras Island. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge appears on Outer Banks Beach Road, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add it to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Nags Head.

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Also in Nags Head

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.